Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-08-04
FERRY DON'T WANT TO FIGHT.
Hia Ungallant conauet in the Boulanss.
Controversy.

LONDON, Aug. 3.-The attempts Of
Gen. Boulanger's seconds to arrange a
duel between their principal and M. Jules
Ferry have assumed phases affording
much amusement to DISTINGUISHED per
sons. The chickering's of the representa-
tiyes Of the ex-miniSter have gone far to
confirm the opinion formed bylmany that
the affair would ultimately end In a fiz-
2ie, aid the tactics employed appear to
have been borrowed for the occasion from
the deyotees of the spirit sprint prize
ring. Sympathy, however, is largely
with Gen. Boulanger and the suspicion is
rapidly gaining ground that N. Ferry
will not fight unless he can be assured
that the chances of his getting hurt will
be reduced to q remote possibility. In
fact, men who have given the matter any
thought, and there Is scarcely one who
has not, find it difficult to eliminate from
the things to be considered is the sug-
gestion of cowardice accompanying the
action OF a man who goes out of his way
to insult another and, when satisfaction
is demanded of him on the field of honor.
insists upon limiting the liability Of
danger to himself to a single exchange of
shots at twenty-five PAGES.
Ihls proposition, coming from M.
Ferry's representatives, was promptly
and Indignantly rejected by Count Dill
lon on behalf of Gen. Boulanger, and his
ACTION is applauded by men who believed
that M. Ferry was justified in his strict
ures upon Gen. Boulanger and denounced
the latter's imphdence in r~esenting the
formers language in the manner he chose
as tending to vindicate his wounded
honor. On the other hand, Gen. Boul-
anger's friends insist more strenuously
that nothing but the shedding of NJ.
Ferfy's blood will suffice to repair the
injury he has inflicted upon Frances
most conspicuous. If not her greatest
soldier. Nobody doubts that in o meet
ing without restrictions as to the number
OF shots to be exchanged Gen. Boulanper
would kill NJ. Ferry If he possibly could,
but that is not the kind of a fight the
latter wants to fight. NJ. Ferry has
shown himself to be a thorough oppor-
tunist in this affair, if he has never done
SO before, by ayailing himself of the
nrst opportunity presented to shirk the
consequences OF, his i1I-chosen and I'M
provoked language in n political speech
intended to insult a man in every respect
his peer, and, as the action of his repre-
sentatives has shown, in respect to bray.
cry his superior.
Count Dillon, who it may incidentally
be mentioned, is the managing director Of
the Commercial (Mackey- Bennett) Gable
company, is said to have remarked to a
friend after his withdrawal from the con
ference of seconds that q duel between
the ex-premier and the ex-minister of war
was yet possible, but if it should be
fought according to the methods of safety
insisted upon by M. Ferry it could not
possible be otherwise than a hazm-
less affair. That Gen. B~oulanger would.
however, consent to such an arrangement
both he and others of the generals
friends did not believe.
NJ. Ferry's seconds confirm the state
ments made by the representatives of
Gen. Boulanger as to the disagreement at
their conference but explain that they
proposed that the duel should be fought
under the same conditions as those OBJ
served in the meeting between Gen. Bon.
LANCER and Baron Lsyenty. B~oulanger,s
seconds refused TO accede to this proposal
and claimed the right to settle the detaili
OF the affair. Ferry's seconds declined tn
admit the claim Of the opposite marty
that the offended party WIS entitled to
settle the conditions of the meeting and
the matter ended.